Transforming itself from a small regional cidermaker to a major brand with an international reach has earned Thatchers a top business award.
The fourth generation family-owned firm won the Business Transformation Award, sponsored by KPMG Boxwood, at the recent IGD Awards.
Thatchers sales director Chris Milton, who received the award on behalf of the Sandford-based firm said: “The fact that Thatchers Cider was recognised is testament to everyone within the company who has contributed to the growth that we continue to experience.
“As a family business we have always stayed true to our values, ensuring quality and taste come first, helping us attract new consumers with our heritage ciders such as Thatchers Gold and our new cloudy cider Somerset Haze, launched earlier this year.”
Matt Clark, Partner at KPMG Boxwood, added: “Thatchers Cider’s long-term vision and investment approach has turned a small regional producer into a major brand in a highly competitive industry segment.
“The results are impressive – six times volume and revenue growth in as many years. They tuned into the changing habits of their customers, developed new products, built the brand, expanded production and opened new sales channels. In doing all of this they stayed true to the family values that underpin the business and involved their people and community throughout. As such, the judges were impressed by both the scale and sustainability of the transformation.” Cheddar cheese producer Wyke Farms has won a prestigious award for its green approach to business.
The winners of the awards, which are staged by research and training charity IGD, were selected by some of the food and drink industry’s top people, including representatives from IGD and companies from across the food and grocery supply chain.
Cheddar cheese producer Wyke Farms, based at Bruton, near Shepton Mallet, landed the Sustainable Future Award, sponsored by Unilever.
The firm was praised for its integrated green approach encompassing renewable energy, water recovery, green farming and transport.
This forms part of the company’s ‘100% green’ sustainability plan through which it has dramatically reduced its carbon footprint and become the first national cheddar brand to be 100% self-sufficient using its own energy generated from solar and biogas.
It also encourages wildlife within its local area, minimises packaging waste, maximises use of organic nitrogen on its farm and supplier farms to replace artificial fertiliser and fliters and re-uses water.
Wyke Farms managing director Richard Clothier – a third generation cheesemaker – said: “We are delighted to receive the Sustainable Future Award from IGD. It is wonderful to be a recognised at such a prestigious award ceremony.”
Unilever communications director Charlotte Carroll added: “Wyke Farms demonstrated ambition at scale, making a significant investment and commitment to embed sustainability into its business.
“It is fast becoming a beacon for others in its community, its industry and the international marketplace it operates in, keen to share its knowledge and encourage its suppliers to work in more sustainable ways.
“Motivated by its values and its principles, Wyke Farms demonstrates how to shift an entire supply chain towards a more sustainable business model.”
Other winners included United Biscuits ( Consumer Insight Excellence Award), PepsiCo UK (Digital Engagement Award) and Coca-Cola Enterprises (E-commerce Award).
Say cheese! Pictured, from left: Richard Clothier of Wyke Farms with Chris Milton, Thatchers Cider
